GEORGE NEWS - She is just an ordinary girl tackling over 1000km by foot to celebrate a granny she never met. Meet Samantha Newman, who on her 24th birthday, started her fundraising journey for the St Bernard’s Hospice in her hometown of East London.

The George Herald spoke to Samantha when she arrived in George, her halfway point, and the place at which many said she would abandon her journey.

Samantha’s granny, Angela Burdett, died at 52 from stomach cancer. Discovered in an advanced phase, Angela refused chemotherapy and radiation as she "wanted to die with dignity". Sam believes her granny would have profitted immeasurably from a hospice like St Bernard’s, which assists terminal cancer patients.

Because her gran’s ashes were scattered over Table Mountain, it is here that Samantha and walking partner, Colin Heuer (a firefighter), started their journey. Covering between 20 and 60km a day, these two say they have seen some fantastic scenery and have been blown away by the hospitality and friendliness of people in the Western Cape. They have been offered lifts, food and accommodation, including from Checkers St George’s Square, the Dros, Pine Lodge and Linda’s B& B. Samantha also enjoyed her first ever oyster in Mossel Bay.

Not easy
But it has not been an easy walk.
Not only did her support vehicle and other fellow walkers pull out at the last minute - which meant an unplanned 37 hour hike to Cape Town with all their tog-bags - but she got robbed in Belville on the first day.

Then there are the blisters. Metro Ambulance Service threatened to call off the walk on her second day if she did not rest for two days, advice that was taken, even though the blisters have remained.
The upside has been time to do some soul searching, and the daily calls from her mom with more information and stories about the granny that until now she had not wanted to know about.
Samantha admits that she avoided conversations about her gran whose cancer she had considered in a negative, shameful way. Things are different now.

Samantha and Colin left George on 17 March and hope to reach East London by 29 March. To make donations or for more information, contact Samantha at 072 797 1976.


All strapped up with just under 1000km still to go. Samantha had to rest for two days due to blisters she developed at the beginning of her journey.

ARTICLE: LEEANNE PRATT